10,000 at Northern Pride

Initial estimates put the draw for Northern Pride in Newcastle at way over 10,000. LGBT+ people from across Britain were drawn to the energetic and vibrant event to celebrate our sexuality.

A number of trade unions participated too, albeit and sadly in a muted tone. Pride is an event which should offer an alternative vision of society for working class people, one in which demands for LGBT+ rights are pronounced strongly.

As regular readers of the Socialist will be aware however Pride has fallen prey to the infection of corporate propaganda and encouragement from bosses for LGBT+ people to rally around marketing brands instead of our demands for liberation, to end austerity and unite working class people.

I was outraged to discover the LGBT Tories marching ahead of the GMB general union. LGBT+ workers should be marching at Pride events behind trade union banners, not the logos of their respective employers.